Page 4 of Year-End Bonus
I roll my eyes. The three of us have had a mutual obsession with Skylar for years. She’s moving on, and Hunter and Mark are having a hard time accepting the inevitable.
"Now that she's no longer employed with EcoStarTech, and we all agree that her body is a wonderland of delight and sinful mayhem"—Hunter pauses, then stands to walk toward me—"we decided there was no harm in taking a shot."
I huff out a laugh, staring at Hunter and Mark in irritation. My friends stare back at me seriously, and I do a double-take. "No."
Mark leans forward, trying to get me to listen. "Paul, we've been tracking her for years. We know everything about her. Her favorite foods, her love for dogs, and, well, her taste in sexy romance books."
I continue to shake my head at the ballsy, asinine attempt to talk me into whatever they have planned. "No."
"She loves to read books about multiple men with one woman." Hunter sits next to Mark.
"No," I practically spit out.
Hunter ignores me, talking over my protests. "Over the last four years, she's read one hundred and twenty-seven of these books. Some twice. Our girl has a kink for sharing."
His grin of excitement enrages me. "Absolutely not. You are not going to touch this. Do you understand me?" I glare at my friends, but the look they exchange makes my stomach drop.
"We already made her an offer.”
I stare at Hunter in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"Told you he'd take it well." Mark grins at Hunter.
"This is why we didn't tell you," Hunter says.
"We thought you'd say no," Mark says at the same time.
I jump up, pulling at my hair to keep from wrapping my hands around either of their necks. "Of course, I would say no! Is the punch spiked? Are you out of your fucking minds?"
Hunter raises his hands in a condescending gesture that makes me want to physically harm him.
"Did you decide you want to bankrupt this company?" I turn to Mark, who is typically the more rational partner. "Children. I'm dealing with children. This is a nightmare!"
Hunter places his hand on my back, trying to steer me to an open chair.
I shake him off like he has the plague. "Don't you fucking placate me," I spit out. I know without the benefit of a mirror that the vein in my forehead is bulging. "This is an HR nightmare. We are going to get sued." I spin in a circle and raise my hands to the ceiling as I curse the gods above for subjecting me to these fucking idiots for so long.
"Are you done?" Hunter's deep voice cuts through my hysteria.
"Am I done? No, I'm not fucking done!" I whirl on them, then realize I have nothing new to add. I need to assess our situation. "What did you tell her?"
"That we’re going to make her fantasies come true," Hunter responds, his smile grating on my nerves.
"More or less," Mark adds.
"What is more?" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose as their words sink in.
Hunter grabs me, patting my chest. "I think the less you know, the better, Paul. Your head vein is freaking me out, and we need you to look like the all-American heartthrob you usually do in thirty minutes."
I shake my head, swallowing hard, but I don't take my eyes off Hunter. "What happens in thirty minutes?"
Mark sits at the conference table. "Paul, she's coming to the party."
I stare at him.
Mark eyes me steadily, his eyebrows drawing tight when I don't respond. "She accepted the offer."
My gaze skirts wildly around the room as I try to find words. Finally, I sit down. "I think I'm going to be sick."
